European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday March 26 2007 stars and stripes Page 25 As Piazza homers in second straight game Jeff Oakland athletics designated hitter Mike Piazza hits a three ran Home ran off of san Diego padres Pitcher Justin germane in the first inning of an exhibition game in Phoenix on Friday the As beat the padres 87 the associated press Mike Piazza knows he cant escape comparisons with the big Hurt Piazza who replacing Frank Thomas As designated hitter for the Oakland athletics this year balks at the expectations that he can equal Thomas outstanding comeback season of 2006 in which he hit 39 Home runs but to far this Spring his Bat is making it hard for fans not to see the similarities Spring training Piazza slated to be the designated hitter in Oakland homered for the second straight game Friday connecting for a three run shot in the first inning against his former team in the athletics 87 Victory Over the san Diego padres he also hit a single to left in the fifth Mike has been on everything at the plate manager Bob Geren said in Phoenix the 38yearold Piazza who spent the first 15 years of his Ca reer in the National league has insisted he wont match the big hurts production but wants to be As productive As he can in his first season shedding the catchers gear to be a do Geren and general manager Billy Beane dont plan to use Piazza even As an emergency Catcher if they can help it its definitely a Challenge Piazza said of having More time on his hands and being judged Only by his offence in starting to enjoy it its a change but in just kind of adapting Veteran Pitcher Kerry Wood is also trying to adapt to a new role Wood moving to the cubs Bull pen pitched in a Spring training game for the first time in 12 Days throwing a scoreless inning As Chicago beat the san Francisco giants 62 Woods Layoff came after he strained his right triceps in his previous Outing March 11 whether he will Start the season with the team or on the disabled list is still not decided i feel like my Arm is in great shape the shoulder is Fine Wood said in Mesa Ariz every thing feels great and that Allim worried about Wood the onetime cubs Ace who making his Way Back from a partially torn rotator cuff will not be Able to make Bac Toback appearances something manager Lou Piniella wants All his relievers to do before Spring training ends with Kerry that Hast been the game plan obviously Piniella said the reason i say that is because Hes had a couple of set backs the news want As Good for los Angeles Angels third base Man chone figgins who expected to be sidelined 56 weeks with two broken fingers on his throw ing hand rays taken Friday by hand specialist or Steve Shin at the Kerlan Jobe clinic revealed Fig gins has fractures of the Index and Middle fingers on his right hand he was injured in the fifth inning of wednesdays game against Arizona in Tempe Ariz when a grounder hit by Conor Jackson bounced off his hand Fig gins was charged with an error on the play and came out of the game after the inning